After I saw this film, I thought the title "Cops of Caribbean" was more appropriate rather than "Miami Vice." Crockett and Tubbs do undercover work for FBI, which allowed them to fly over the Caribbean Sea between Florida and Colombia. This makes the movie look like "James Bond Film" in which James Bond flies with jet flights, helicopters, and run through a sports car and a jet boat. Though the cinematography was great in this film, it showed the beauty of Caribbean sea rather than Miami. Gong Li does not show her charisma which she showed in Zhang Yimou films but is overwhelmed by Collin Farrel who showed great testosterone- driven character. Instead, the most impressive actor in this film is Elizabeth Rodriguez.
Reviews
14 Reviews
Superman Returns
(2006)
How does Lois Lane remember the father of her son?
5 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It may be because I did not see Sunperman IV. In SupermanII, Lois Lane forgot that Clark Kent is the Superman at the end of the movie. It is possible that she got pregnant when Lois and Clark had honeymoon. BUT she forgot everything. So she could not know who her son's father is. That's the biggest mystery or mistake of this film.
The cast.... Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor is not strong but weaker than Gene Hackman's. Kevin Spacey's Lex is not enough to be megalomaniac but looks like a psycho.
Parker Posey's Kitty Kowarsky... I don't understand why she is cast as Kitty Koawarsky. She is not sexy, or cute or dumb enough.
The cast.... Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor is not strong but weaker than Gene Hackman's. Kevin Spacey's Lex is not enough to be megalomaniac but looks like a psycho.
Parker Posey's Kitty Kowarsky... I don't understand why she is cast as Kitty Koawarsky. She is not sexy, or cute or dumb enough.
Spider Forest
(2004)
Modern folklore, partly East European Style, Korean situation
9 September 2005
As Kurosawa adapted Shakespeare into Japanese Samurai films, Song did European folklore, or maybe Kafka, into modern Korea. For me, European folklore is a story that boys and girls are lost in labyrinthine woods - Hanzel and Gretel or Red Riding Hood. A TV producer, Kang Min, lost his way in woods and his time, his memory, his unconsciousness messed up and mixed. In this chaotic situation, Kang Min meets a mysterious woman (Suh Jeong) who tells the legend of Spider Forrest.
Director Song emphasizes the tone, mood, and atmosphere rather than coherent storytelling. Especially the lighting of tunnel scene reminds me Krzystof Kieslowski's The Double Life of Veronica and Decalogue.
Very unique film.
Director Song emphasizes the tone, mood, and atmosphere rather than coherent storytelling. Especially the lighting of tunnel scene reminds me Krzystof Kieslowski's The Double Life of Veronica and Decalogue.
Very unique film.
Oldboy
(2003)
Eating Octopus is as customary as eating sushi and sashimi.
3 September 2004
Some Koreans enjoy eating living octopus though other Koreans don't. It is just as the same as eating sushi and sashimi. You may not be used to eating it or even seeing the scene. Anyway, it is not so shocking to Koreans as to Western audience. You may want to feel 'living things' or 'something fresh',
to feel what the life means by eating which is the basic human
instinct, if you are prisoned 15 years and eat just one item
For me, Oldboy to Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is what Koryo Blue Porcelain to Chosen White Porcelain. Each film has its own attraction but OldBoy is much more decorative than Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance which shows the beauty and power of the simplicity.
I still prefer the latter, though Oldboy is still great.
to feel what the life means by eating which is the basic human
instinct, if you are prisoned 15 years and eat just one item
- fried dumping for 15 years. How about canned Ravioli for 15 years or Big Mac for 15 years? Or French Fried for 15 years?
For me, Oldboy to Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is what Koryo Blue Porcelain to Chosen White Porcelain. Each film has its own attraction but OldBoy is much more decorative than Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance which shows the beauty and power of the simplicity.
I still prefer the latter, though Oldboy is still great.
A Tale of Two Sisters
(2003)
stairway and aisle, chill from the Western style building
3 October 2003
Gothic style horror still works in this film. Korean Gothic Horror might be established by legendary director KIM Ki-Young with his film HOUSEMAID (1960) and KIM Ji-Woon's TALE OF TWO SISTERS can be included in this tradition.
LIM Su-Jeong's acting was great and YEON Jung-Ah did her best acting in this film.
LIM Su-Jeong's acting was great and YEON Jung-Ah did her best acting in this film.
Phone
(2002)
cell phone version of Kim Ki-Young's Housemaid(1960)
18 June 2003
Whoever doesn't know about Korean horror films, this film is just a
copy of NAKATA Hideo's Ring. But this does not explain why this film was successful in Korea. The strength of this film is the mix of former horror films which followed East Asian tradition and global hybrid.
Of course, there are some elements which come from Ring, but more from Whispering Corridor, Memento Mori, and KIM Ki-Young's cult classic HOUSEMAID (1960) - especially, the conflict of characters which alluded class struggle in 1950s. The sequence of stairways, in which Young Joo got fell, and Ji-Won and Ho-Jung frustrated, is a kind of hommage to it.
Maybe this film will have been the most successful among all horror
films released in Korea.
copy of NAKATA Hideo's Ring. But this does not explain why this film was successful in Korea. The strength of this film is the mix of former horror films which followed East Asian tradition and global hybrid.
Of course, there are some elements which come from Ring, but more from Whispering Corridor, Memento Mori, and KIM Ki-Young's cult classic HOUSEMAID (1960) - especially, the conflict of characters which alluded class struggle in 1950s. The sequence of stairways, in which Young Joo got fell, and Ji-Won and Ho-Jung frustrated, is a kind of hommage to it.
Maybe this film will have been the most successful among all horror
films released in Korea.
No. 3
(1997)
the precursor of Korean gangster comedy
17 December 2002
From this film, Korean gangster comedy became the most emergent genre which brought the international fandom to Korean films. The tradition of gangster comedy succeeded to 'Attack the Gas Station', 'My Wife is a Gangster', 'My boss My hero', 'Hi, Dharma', and 'Guns and Talks'.
Besides, two great male actors got their stardom by this film. One is Choi Min-sik (Swiri, Failan, Happy End, and Chihwaseon) who concentrated on stage career in those days, and the other is SONG Kang Ho (Swiri, The Foul King, and JSA).
This film is very funny and enjoyable satire to Korean society. Most characters are obssessed with something - power, hierarchy, fame, sexual pleasure and property. Sometimes these things are exposed with their vanity. Very Enjoyable film.
Besides, two great male actors got their stardom by this film. One is Choi Min-sik (Swiri, Failan, Happy End, and Chihwaseon) who concentrated on stage career in those days, and the other is SONG Kang Ho (Swiri, The Foul King, and JSA).
This film is very funny and enjoyable satire to Korean society. Most characters are obssessed with something - power, hierarchy, fame, sexual pleasure and property. Sometimes these things are exposed with their vanity. Very Enjoyable film.
Die Another Day
(2002)
There is no Zao in Korean family names.
1 December 2002
The name of Zao is not Korean style.
The love scene at a Buddhist Temple in the last scene is ridiculous. The scenario writer may see too many books of Tibetan Tantric stories about sex, meditation, and enlightenment, but he may see only sex rather than meditation and enlightenment.
Even the temple is not Korean temple.
I expect that James Bond has sex with Bond Girl in Roman Catholic Church or other Christian Church. Maybe in Anglican Church. Do you think it is allowed to have sex in temple?
The love scene at a Buddhist Temple in the last scene is ridiculous. The scenario writer may see too many books of Tibetan Tantric stories about sex, meditation, and enlightenment, but he may see only sex rather than meditation and enlightenment.
Even the temple is not Korean temple.
I expect that James Bond has sex with Bond Girl in Roman Catholic Church or other Christian Church. Maybe in Anglican Church. Do you think it is allowed to have sex in temple?
My Sassy Girl
(2001)
Upgraded version of 'Sketch of Mimi and Cheolsu's young days'
3 May 2002
In late 80's two young filmmakers showed films which treated the pure love between a college boy and girl. One is LEE Kyu-Hyoung and his is 'Sketch of Mimi and Cheolsu's young days'(1986) and the other is KWAK Jae-Yong and 'Water Painting in a Rainy Day'(1989).
They share the value of purity and goodness of human nature, and focus on expressing this feeling. And, the fan of their film was Korean teens who are very curious about the life of Korean college man. But college students did not see their movies because they thought that their films did not reflect the real situation of 80s Korean college culture under military dictatorship. So these two filmmakers were almost forgotten through 90s.
But in 21st century, as the consummerism rises in South Korea and the rigidity in college relatively disappears, the romanticism and sentimentalism spreads, which makes the director KWAK Jae-Yong return to Korean film industry.
The character in 'Sassy' is very similar to 'Sketch of Mimi and 'Cheolsu...', in which KANG Su-Yeon took a role of tough girl and PARK Jung-Hun, who is Detective WOO in Nowhere to Hide, a sensitive boy. The subversive pleasure of two films is almost the same - the reversal of power relation between male and female.
And the shot in which a tree on a hill reminds me of some scenes in 'Water Painting...', in which OK So-Ree did water painting on a hill. The director still sticks to the theme of purity of human soul and nature and relate it to Korean Nature - a hill and a mountain.
I agree with reviews that this film is very romantic and funny. I just try to explain the context and genealogy of this film.
They share the value of purity and goodness of human nature, and focus on expressing this feeling. And, the fan of their film was Korean teens who are very curious about the life of Korean college man. But college students did not see their movies because they thought that their films did not reflect the real situation of 80s Korean college culture under military dictatorship. So these two filmmakers were almost forgotten through 90s.
But in 21st century, as the consummerism rises in South Korea and the rigidity in college relatively disappears, the romanticism and sentimentalism spreads, which makes the director KWAK Jae-Yong return to Korean film industry.
The character in 'Sassy' is very similar to 'Sketch of Mimi and 'Cheolsu...', in which KANG Su-Yeon took a role of tough girl and PARK Jung-Hun, who is Detective WOO in Nowhere to Hide, a sensitive boy. The subversive pleasure of two films is almost the same - the reversal of power relation between male and female.
And the shot in which a tree on a hill reminds me of some scenes in 'Water Painting...', in which OK So-Ree did water painting on a hill. The director still sticks to the theme of purity of human soul and nature and relate it to Korean Nature - a hill and a mountain.
I agree with reviews that this film is very romantic and funny. I just try to explain the context and genealogy of this film.
Pistol Opera
(2001)
I joined in his enjoying filmmaking.
27 April 2002
Since I saw Suzuki Seijun's 'Branded to Kill', I have been enchanted by his weird and absurdistic filmmaking style. His 'Pistol Opera' does not betray my expectation and I really enjoyed his gorgeous visual style and absurdism.
I feel like seeing a painter do an abstract painting. He ignores the typical storytelling and performance, and searches the dark and irrational aspect of human desire and emotion.
In this film, 'the stray cat', NO.3 in the professional killer guild was asked to kill No.1 'hundred eye'. If she succeeds, she will be No.1, but if fails, she will be killed by No.1. So her assassination of No.1 is driven both by her will to rise in social hierarchy and by her drive to survive. It is the same as 'Branded to Kill'.
He must enjoy filmmaking. Some one tries to complete his artistic goal, others to earn money. Sujuki Seijun shows me the third, and the most important, level of filmmaking.
Just enjoy filmmaking itself! He reminds me the mentality Carpe Diem - filmmaking as a play, or ludenic element of filmmaking.
I feel like seeing a painter do an abstract painting. He ignores the typical storytelling and performance, and searches the dark and irrational aspect of human desire and emotion.
In this film, 'the stray cat', NO.3 in the professional killer guild was asked to kill No.1 'hundred eye'. If she succeeds, she will be No.1, but if fails, she will be killed by No.1. So her assassination of No.1 is driven both by her will to rise in social hierarchy and by her drive to survive. It is the same as 'Branded to Kill'.
He must enjoy filmmaking. Some one tries to complete his artistic goal, others to earn money. Sujuki Seijun shows me the third, and the most important, level of filmmaking.
Just enjoy filmmaking itself! He reminds me the mentality Carpe Diem - filmmaking as a play, or ludenic element of filmmaking.
Fury
(1936)
the man who was too afraid of the mob.
19 December 2001
Yes, his angst to the mob or urban mass is a key to understand his films like 'M' and 'Metropolis' which he made in Germany. Maybe they can be called as 'urban fear' trilogy. It is the mob's prejudice that is really scaring. Their volatile disposition is easy to explode by some demagogues' irresponsible agitation. During the Weimar Republic era, the chaos of German society might influence his direction.
An Affair
(1998)
Can the adultery be a mean for people to find oneself?
25 September 2001
This film is about alienation, the mutual sympathy, and finding oneself rather than just an love affair of a middle aged woman. It is revealed by the scenes in which Seo-Hyun(LEE Mi-Sook) meets Wu-In (LEE Jung-Jae) that she is captured in her everyday life with her husband. Their meeting and dating always are set in the Nature or open space with bright color tone- lake, woods, and garden.
But her husband always appears within the closed place - a little bit dark and blue interior with cold tone. Though she does not express her dissatisfaction nor shows her facial expression, the surroundings tell viewers what she feels.
LEE Mi-Sook, the heroine of this film, comes back to Korean Film industry from her near 10 year reclusive marriage and shows the beauty of mature Korean woman as Isabelle Huppert shows her gorgeousness in 'School of Flesh'. Director LEE Jae-Yong chooses the minimalist direction in this film and lets the characters, settings, and tones reveal some meanings themselves and lets audience feel the film rather explain how she is gorgeous.
Usually heroines of melodrama weep and cry too much in this situation. But LEE Mi-Sook's performance style is very different from the typical melodramatic performance. She shows nothing but her feeling is allegorized by the surroundings.
But her husband always appears within the closed place - a little bit dark and blue interior with cold tone. Though she does not express her dissatisfaction nor shows her facial expression, the surroundings tell viewers what she feels.
LEE Mi-Sook, the heroine of this film, comes back to Korean Film industry from her near 10 year reclusive marriage and shows the beauty of mature Korean woman as Isabelle Huppert shows her gorgeousness in 'School of Flesh'. Director LEE Jae-Yong chooses the minimalist direction in this film and lets the characters, settings, and tones reveal some meanings themselves and lets audience feel the film rather explain how she is gorgeous.
Usually heroines of melodrama weep and cry too much in this situation. But LEE Mi-Sook's performance style is very different from the typical melodramatic performance. She shows nothing but her feeling is allegorized by the surroundings.
For Go-chul
(1993)
How ordinary people accept the value of everyday life?
1 September 2001
Go-Chul means 'scrap iron' or 'junk iron' which is not used any more or needs to be recycled. Director Hur Jin-Ho describes the way in which the ordinary man, who spent his youth near the junk iron collecting place, accepts his girlfriend, who is not a virgin, as his wife. Korean man used to consider woman's virginity. The ordinary man in this film finally gets to imperturbability after he gives up his meaningless adherence to woman's virginity.
After he knew to have drunk the water in a skeleton, Wonhyo(means The First Dawn), the great Buddhist Zen master in Korean History, said "Il Che Yu Shim Jo(Mind gives meaning to everything)." The ordinary man decides to plan the happy life with her by abandoning his adherence - by changing his mind. The negation of the past is the first step for the bright future.
A friend of mine told me that she was upset because the director compared a woman with junk iron or 'used'. She might not understand that people struggled to accept the bright side of life by comparing the thing new or unfamiliar with the thing that he already got used to.
If you have the opportunity to see this film, you may understand Christmas in August much better.
After he knew to have drunk the water in a skeleton, Wonhyo(means The First Dawn), the great Buddhist Zen master in Korean History, said "Il Che Yu Shim Jo(Mind gives meaning to everything)." The ordinary man decides to plan the happy life with her by abandoning his adherence - by changing his mind. The negation of the past is the first step for the bright future.
A friend of mine told me that she was upset because the director compared a woman with junk iron or 'used'. She might not understand that people struggled to accept the bright side of life by comparing the thing new or unfamiliar with the thing that he already got used to.
If you have the opportunity to see this film, you may understand Christmas in August much better.
Chunhyang
(2000)
the first chunhyang with three meanings.
5 January 2001
Warning: Spoilers
First, this movie is the first 'Chunhyang' that is exhibited to Western movie fan even though so many 'Chunhyang's has been produced in Korea.
Second, this movie is the first 'Chunhyang' that emphasizes Mongryong rather that Chunhyang. Usually in many a love story a beautiful heroine is likely to be an element of deploying story and get mass concern. After seeing love story, movie fans remember the beauty of heroine like Olivia Hussey in "Romeo and Juliet" or Vivian Leigh in "Gone with the Wind." But, in this film you may see much more Close Ups of Mongryong than Chunhyang, and you may not remember the beauty of Hyo-Jeong Lee. In my opinion, Hyo-Jeong Lee may be one of two actresses who fail to get stardom despite her title role of Chunhyang in the history of Korean Cinema - the other one was Na-Seong Lee who played Chunhyang about fifteen years ago. Usually contemporary stars or rising stars played Chunhyang - for example, legendary Eun-Hee Choi(1961) and Mi-Hee Jang(1976).
And it is related with third factor, which is considered very important by Western critics. This film is the first Chunhyang which is combined with 'pansori,' Korean epic which is played by one singer and one drummer. The relation of Director Im Kwon-Taek's 'Chunhyang' and pansori is the same as Francis Ford Coppola's 'Dracula' and Bram Stoker's original.
One thing more, the marriage of Chunhyang, the daughter of ex-courtesan, and Mongryong, the son of high bureaucrat, can be interpreted equality between ruling class and ruled class. But this interpretation is only as available as the interpretation that the marriage of Cinderella and a Prince means equality between classes in Western culture.
Second, this movie is the first 'Chunhyang' that emphasizes Mongryong rather that Chunhyang. Usually in many a love story a beautiful heroine is likely to be an element of deploying story and get mass concern. After seeing love story, movie fans remember the beauty of heroine like Olivia Hussey in "Romeo and Juliet" or Vivian Leigh in "Gone with the Wind." But, in this film you may see much more Close Ups of Mongryong than Chunhyang, and you may not remember the beauty of Hyo-Jeong Lee. In my opinion, Hyo-Jeong Lee may be one of two actresses who fail to get stardom despite her title role of Chunhyang in the history of Korean Cinema - the other one was Na-Seong Lee who played Chunhyang about fifteen years ago. Usually contemporary stars or rising stars played Chunhyang - for example, legendary Eun-Hee Choi(1961) and Mi-Hee Jang(1976).
And it is related with third factor, which is considered very important by Western critics. This film is the first Chunhyang which is combined with 'pansori,' Korean epic which is played by one singer and one drummer. The relation of Director Im Kwon-Taek's 'Chunhyang' and pansori is the same as Francis Ford Coppola's 'Dracula' and Bram Stoker's original.
One thing more, the marriage of Chunhyang, the daughter of ex-courtesan, and Mongryong, the son of high bureaucrat, can be interpreted equality between ruling class and ruled class. But this interpretation is only as available as the interpretation that the marriage of Cinderella and a Prince means equality between classes in Western culture.
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